Automatic handle applying machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for automatically applying handles to gable top containers. The machine has a punching station for punching holes in the gable of the gable top container and a handle applicator station where the handle is automatically applied to the container, locked and cold headed. The punching station and the handle applicator station are substantially in line. Means are provided for moving containers along a straight path into and out of the punching station and into and out of the handle applicator station.

United States Patent Fries, Jr. et a1.

[ AUTOMATIC HANDLE APPLYING MACHINE [75] lnventors: Carl J. Fries, Jr., Philadelphia;

Walton B. Jones, Richboro; John E. Junod, Philadelphia, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: International Paper Company, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 301,133

[52] US. Cl 29/208 8, 29/211 D, 29/243.54 [51] Int. Cl..... B23p 19/04, B23q 7/10, B23p 11/00 [58] Field of Search 29/208 B, 211 D, 243.54,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,484,515 12/1969 Linda et a1 29/211 D X g [451 Mar. 12, 1974 Linda et al 29/243.54 X Fries, Jr. et a1. 29/208 B Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlfred L. Michaelsen, Esq.; Charles B. Smith, Esq.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A machine for automatically applying handles to gable top containers. The machine has a punching station for punching holes in the gable of the gable top container and a handle applicator station where the handle is automatically applied to the container, locked and cold headed. The punching station and the handle applicator station are substantially in line. Means are provided for moving containers along a straight path into and out of the punching station and into and out of the handle applicator station.

24 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures TIME-R SPEED REDUCER I MOTOR 6 2333 4? 47 5o PATENIEDHAR I 21974 SHEEI 1 [IF 7 XS md mU QUUDOWR ONUDW www PATENIEB MAR 2 I974 SHEET 2 [IF 7 Ask WSW QR 9 WQN NVRN NRR PATENIEB HAR I 21974 SHEEI 3 0F 7 QQQ QRN

PATENIEBHAR 1 21974 SHEET 5 BF 7 MJ M.

.mx QQW V AUTOMATIC HANDLE AI IPILTING MAICWE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention disclosed herein relates generally to a high speed, automatic machine for applying handles to gable top containers and especially gable top containers made of paper board, e.g. milk containers. More specifically, the machine disclosed herein is especially adapted for applying to gable top containers a handle of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,924 which is incorporated herein by reference. Such handles'are essentially of a D shape configuration and are provided with an interlocking, male and female member. The male member engages a hole punched in the gable of a gable top container and protrudes therethrough. The female member may then be snapped over the male member so as to engage a groove on the male member and lock the handle. Subsequently, the protruding section of the male member may be cold headed to permanently lock the handle in place. Although the prior art discloses machines for applying such handles to gable top containers, all of the machines heretofore known possess certain operating disadvantages. For example, US. Pat. Nos. 3,484,515, 3,585,702 and 3,597,827 disclose machines for applying handles of the type heretofore described. Considering US. Pat. Nos. 3,484,515 and 3,585,702, there is disclosed therein a semiautomatic machine for applying handles of the type previously described, such handles being hereinafter referred to simply as handles. This machine, being semiautomatic, requires the full time attention of an operator and was manifestly not adapted for automatic or high speed operation. Moreover, the construction of certain elements of the machine were such as to require a specific placement of a handle on the gable top container. More specifically, the locking and cold heading station of this machine was so constructed and arranged that the handles had to be placed on the container (manually) with the male member always pointing in the same direction. A mistake by the operator in this regard could prevent an effective cold heading.

The machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. 3,597,827 is an automatic handle applying machine, i.e. the machine can operate without the attention of an operator. However, the construction of this machine is such as to effectively preclude high speed operation. Thus, it has been found that a machine of this type cannot be oper ated at speeds substantially in excess of 30 containers per minute. This limitation arises because of a number of design constraints associated with the machine. For example, the containers to which handles are to be applied are moved through the machine by a reciprocating and translating frame. Because of the mass associated with this frame, high speed operation of the machine is essentially foreclosed. Similarly, the various operating stations associated with the machine are movably mounted on the machine and thus, must be moved into and out of position before and after a particular operation occurs. As a specific example, the punching station and the cold heading station are moved into an operative position, with respect to a container, by double acting pistons and cylinders. Consequently, the completion of each operation is delayed while the operating station is moved into position and moved out of position. It is difficult to reduce the time during which this movement occurs since, once again,

the physical mass of the operating stations is a limiting factor.

Having perceived the dificiencies of the above described handle applying machines, the machine disclosed herein is so constructed and arranged as to avoid the dificiencies of prior art handle applying machines. Thus, the novel construction of the instant machine permits high speed operation, e.g. operation at speeds in excess of 60 containers per minute.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A machine for applying handles to gable top containers is provided with a hole punching station which is fixedly mounted onthe frame of the machine. The hole punching station includes both means foraligning the gable of a gable top container as well as means for punching a hole throughthe gable. Also mounted on the machine, in-line with the hole punching station, is a handle applicator station. The handle applicator station includes means for applying a handle to the gable of a gable top container in the handle applicator station and means for substantially simultaneously locking the handle in place and cold heading the handle. Additionally, the machine is provided with means for moving a gable top container, along a substantially straight path, into and out of the punching station and then into and out of the handle applicator station. At each of the two.

stations, the container is stopped while the operative function of that station is performed. Thus, the container is indexed from one station to another along a linear or straight path. Since the container moves along a straight path and since the punching apparatus and combined locking and cold heading apparatus are fixedly mounted on the frame, high speed operation of the machine may be achieved.

The means for indexably moving the containers along the straight path may preferably be a pair of driven chains disposed along both sides of the path, each of the chains having container engaging dogs mounted thereon. Containers may be introduced into the machine by a transverse displacement into the container engaging dogs of one of the chains which, preferably, extends along the straight path for a distance greater than the other chain.

High speed operation of the punching station is further achieved by the use of a container aligning apparatus which operates in response to movement of the punch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a top, sectional view of the bottom half of the machine shown in FIG. 1., taken along the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side, fragmentary, sectional view of a part of the machine shown in FIG. 1, taken along the seciton lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a left, side view of one part of the machine shown in FIG. ll including a gable top container.

FIG. 6 is a left, side view, partially in section of part of the machine shown in FIG. 1 as taken along the section line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, right side view, in section, taken along the section line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a left side view, partially in section, of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as taken along the section line 99 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10, is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 as taken along the section line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 as taken along the section line 1l--1l of FIG. 9 and further including certain parts not shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top view of one part of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top view of the part shown in FIG. 12 and including a gable top container.

FIG. 14 is a right side view as taken along the section line 1414 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the machine part shown in FIG. 12. 9

FIG. 16 is a timing circuit diagram.

FIG. 17 is a switch actuation table relating to FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in side view a machine representative of the preferred embodiment of our invention. Such a machine is generally comprised of an up-standing frame 20 having various operating stations and transport mechanisms mounted thereon. Thus, in FIG. 1, two longitudinal base members 21, 31 and two transverse base members 41, 42 form the base of the frame. Rigidly mounted on the base frame members are four up-standing frame members 22, 23, 32

'and 33. It will be appreciated that since FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine, certain frame members are not seen, e.g. the transverse frame members and the longitudinal up-standing frame members which are in back of those shown in FIG. 1.

Continuing with the description of the frame of the machine as shown in FIG. 1, the up-standing frame members 22 and 23 are connected at the top thereof by a top, longitudinal frame member 26. Similarly, upstanding frame members 32 and 33 are connected at the top thereof by top, longitudinal frame member 36. At the top of the frame, two transverse frame members 43 and 44 provide a transverse connection between the up-standing frame members 22, 32 and 23, 33 respectively. Two lower longitudinal frame members 24, 34 are secured to the up-standing frame members 22, 23

' and 32, 33, respectively. Similarly, intermediate longitudinal frame members 25, 35 are secured to upstanding frame members 22, 23 and 32, 33, respectively. At one end of the machine (at the entrance end of the machine or, as seen in FIG. 1, at the left end of the machine) a plate 29 is transversely mounted on the machine and secured to up-standing frame members 22, 32. Secured to the plate 29 is a stiffener 27 and a bracket 45. Similarly, at the other end of the machine (the exit end of the machine or, as seen in FIG. 1, the right end of the machine) a plate 28 is transversely mounted on the machine and secured to up-standing frame members 23, 33. Secured to the plate 28 is a bracket 45a. A channel member 60 is longitudinal mounted on the machine and supported at one end by the plate 29 and the bracket 45 and, at the other end, by the plate 28 and the bracket 45a.

CONTAINER TRANSPORT SYSTEM Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conveyor belt 100 is mounted on the channel 60 and provides a substantially straight transport path through the machine. The conveyor belt 100 is preferably adapted for external drive, i.e. to be driven by means not shown in FIG. 1.

Mounted on the frame 20, as shown in FIG. 1, are a punching station 300 and a handle applicator station 400. The purpose and operation of these two stations will be hereinafter described in more detail.

Referring again to FIG. 1, there is provided a motor mounted on the base of the frame 20. A shaft 54 connects the motor 50 to a speed reducer 53 which is maintained and supported above the motor 50 by means not shown in FIG. 1. Extending horizontally from the speed reducer 53 are two shafts 51, 55 which are output shafts. The shaft 51 is an input to the control timer 52. Mounted on the frame 20 is a discontinuous drive unit 56. The shaft 55 is connected to the discontinuous drive unit 56 and is the input there-to. Preferably, the shafts 51, 55 are a single shaft extending through the speed reducer 53. Such a single shaft configuration is preferred since it insures that the input to the timer is in synchronism with the input to the discontinuous drive unit 56. The output shaft from the discontinuous drive unit 56 provides the input to gear box 77. Extending from the top of gear box 77 are two shafts 57, 58 which are journaled in pedestal bearings 59, 69, respectively. The gear box 77 is constructed such that rotation of shaft 70 causes the shafts 57, 58 to rotate in mutually opposite directions. Since the speed reducer 53, the discontinuous drive unit 56 and the gear box 77 are, essentially, commercially available units or are known to those skilled in the art, a description of their internal construction has been omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that two drive sprocket wheels 122, 142 are mounted on the shafts 57, 58, respectively. A chain 120, with container engaging dogs 121 mounted thereon, is trained over the drive wheel 122 and an idler wheel 123. The idler wheel 123 is mounted on a shaft 124 which is journaled in the bearing 125 (FIG. 1).

Similarly, chain 140, with container engaging dogs 141 mounted thereon, is trained over the drive wheel 142 and an idler wheel 143. The idler wheel 143 is mounted on a shaft 144 which is journaled in bearings 145, 145a (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the chain extends a greater distance along the path defined by the conveyor 100 than the chain 120. The purpose for this difference in length will hereinafter become apparent.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that there is provided two horizontal support plates 65, 66 which are secured to support rails 101. Mounted on the plate 65 is a pedestal 64 on the top of which is mounted the bearing 125.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a rectangular plate 146 is mounted between the opposite sides of the chain 140. The purpose of this plate is to provide a back-up for the chains so that they are not transversely displaced when in operation. Similarly, a plate 126 is mounted between opposite runs of the chain 120. Re-

ferring to FIG. 1, the plate 63 mounted on the plate 65 carries at its top end the plate 126.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that there is provided guide bars 62 adjacent to the conveyor at the inlet side of the machine. Similarly, at the discharge side of the machine, there is provided a pair of guide bars 61. It may also be noted that within the frame of the machine a pair of support rails 101 are disposed adjacent and parallel to the conveyor 100. Further, as best seen in FIG. 1, it may be observed that the support rails 101 vary in height longitudinally of the machine. Thus, at 105 (FIG. 2) the upper surface of the support rails 101 are below the top surface of the conveyor 100. However, downstream of the point 105, the upper surface of the support rails 101 rise above the upper surface of the conveyor 100.

In view of the construction hereinabove described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, at least a part of the operation of the machine shown in FlGS. 1 and 2 may be understood. Thus, as the shafts 57 and 58 are rotated in opposite directions, i.e. shaft 57' rotates clockwise and shaft 58 rotates counterclockwise, the chains 120 and 140 move such that the container engaging dogs 121, 141 which are mounted thereon and are aligned transversely of the machine, also move. If a container is placed into engagement with the container engaging dogs 141 on the chain 140 at the entrance end of the machine, the container engaging dogs will then move the container. More particularly, as the container moves through the machine from the entrance end to the exit end, the bottom surface of the container contacts the support rails 101. Thus, as the container progresses, it is lifted out of contact with the conveyor 100 and rests upon the support rails 101. Further movement of the container is then achieved by movement of the chains 120, 121. Such movement continues until the container approaches the exit end of the machine near the point 105a, at which point the top surface of the support rails 101 falls below the upper surface of the conveyor 100. As such, as the container is discharged from the container engaging dogs 141, 121, the bottom of the container is in contact with the top of the conveyor 100 and is then discharged from the machine.

In summary, according to the preferred embodiment of our invention as shown in the drawings, a container is delivered to the machine and discharged from the machine by conveyor 100. Within the machine, movement of the container longitudinally thereof occurs in response to movement of the chains 140, 120 because the container is engaged by the transversely aligned, container engaging dogs mounted thereon.

CONTAINER DISPLACING SYSTEM As a means for placing a container into engagement with the container engaging dogs, the machine of FIG. 1 is provided with a container displacing station 200 which is most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the function of the container displacing station 200.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that two mounting blocks 212, 213 are secured to opposing sides of the upstanding frame member 22. A plate 222 is carried by four bolts 206, 207, 208 and 209 which engage the blocks 212, 213. The plate 222 is mounted on the aforementioned bolts and maintained in a fixed position by the stand-off members 202, 203, 204 and 205. Mounted on the plate 222 is a cylinder assembly 201 having a piston 210 extending therefrom. Movement of the piston 210 is attained by admitting fluid under pressure to the inlets 220 and 221. A cross bar 211 is fixedly mounted on the piston 210. Extending from the cross bar 211 are two shafts 214, 215. The shafts 21 1, 215 extend through guide holes in the mounting blocks 212, 213, respectively. The shafts 214, 215 are fixedly attached to a pusher plate 216. Attached to the other face of the pusher plate 216 is a face plate 217 having a curved portion at one end thereof as best seen in FlG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a support plate 218 is secured, at one end, to the pusher plate 216. A pusher gable guide 219 is secured to the other end of the support plate 218. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the pusher gable guide 219 includes two downwardly extending members 223 and 2241. More particularly, it may be noted that the longitudinal length of the downwardly depending member 223 is substantially less than the longitudinal length of the downwardly depending member 224.

In operation, the facing plate 217 may occupy one of two positions, a retracted position as shown in FIG. 3 or an extended position as shown in FIG. 5. The facing plate 217 is moved to its extended position in response to admitting fluid under pressure to the inlet 221 of the double acting cylinder assembly 201. Alternatively, the facing plate 217 is moved to and maintained in its retracted position in response to fluid admitted under pressure to the fluid inlet 220.

Referring to FIG. 4, it may be noted that a plate 225, which may be mounted on the frame of the machine, is provided. Moreover, the plate 225 is mounted on the machine so as to transversely cover the channel defined by the downwardly depending members 223 and 224 of the pusher gable guide 219 when the facing plate and the parts connected thereto are'in the retracted position. Similarly, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a gable guide 102 is mounted on and depends downwardly from the frame cross member 30. Plates 39 and 38 (FIG. 1) are provided for the mounting of the gable guide 102 on the cross frame member 30. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the channel defined by the gable top guide member 102 is longitudinally aligned with the channel formed by the downwardly depending members 223 and 224 of the pusher gable guide member 219 when the pusher assembly is in its retracted position.

When the machine is in operation, the container displacing station would operate as follows. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4', containers are continuously supplied to the machine by the conveyor 100. As the containers approach the machine, the guide rails 63 transversely displaced the container with respect to the substantially straight path defined by the conveyor 100. As the containers approach the machine and subsequent to their transverse displacement, the gable of the first container is engaged by the gable guide 102. At this point, the container displacing assembly is in its retracted position. Thus, as a container is passed under the gable guide 102, the gable thereof enters into the channel defined by the downwardly depending members 223, 224 of the pusher gable guide 219. The container continues its longitudinal movement until the gable thereof engages the stop 225. At this point, the presence of a container at the displacing station is detected by the switch LS-2. Assuming that other containers are supplied to the machine, they will accumulate as shown in FIG. 4 thus maintaining the switch LS-4 in its closed position. The switches 1.84 and LS-2 provide logic signals to the timing circuit for purposes hereinafter described. At some point in time, the dogs 141 mounted on the chain 140 will be in the position shown in FIG. 4. At that time, and in response to signals provided from the timing circuit, fluid will be admitted to the port 221 of the cylinder 201 causing the piston 210 to move forward towards its extended position. As this occurs, the facing plate 217 will transversely displace the container into the container engaging dogs 141 (FIG. 4). During the displacement, the gable of the container being displaced is maintained within the displacer gable guide 219 to insure that the container does not twist or fall. When the displacing assembly reaches its extended position the chain 141 is indexed so as to move the container longitudinally in the machine. Referring to FIG. 4, the dashed line 217a indicates the position of the facing plate 217 when the displacer assembly is in its extended position.

Referring to FIG. 4, it may now be appreciated that the unequal, longitudinal length of the downwardly depending members 223 and 224 is of significance with respect to increasing the operational speed of the machine. Thus, it will be appreciated that the container displacing assembly cannot be retracted from its extended position until the container which has been displaced is cleared out of the displacer gable guide 219 by a movement of the container engaging dogs 141. Thus, by insuring that the downwardly depending member 223 is of a length which is less than the longitudinal length of the downwardly depending member 224, the container displacing assembly may be retracted as soon as the trailing edge of the gable clears the right hand, transverse edge of the downwardly depending member 223. In this manner, the operating speed of the container displacing assembly may be substantially increased. Similarly, considering the functioning of the container displacing station 200 as compared to the container displacing assemblies disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,597,827, it will be appreciated that substantially increased operating speed can be ob tained with the instant displacing assembly since the stroke thereof is substantially shorter.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be apparent that the container displacing station 200 is so constructed and arranged that when the container displacing assembly is in its extended position, the container is transversely displaced into longitudinal alignment with the substantially straight path defined by the conveyor 100. Additionally, of course, the container displacing station functions to transversely displace the container into engagement with the container engaging dogs 141 mounted on the chain 140 which is the longer of the two chains. Additionally,'it will be appreciated that while the facing plate and other parts of the container displacing assembly are in its extended position, the curved portion of the facing plate 217 prevents another container from entering the container displacing station. Finally, referring toFlG. 2, it will be noted that the upper surface of the support rails 101 are below the upper surface of the conveyor 100 in the area of the container displacing station 200. Thus, upon displacement, the container is still substantially resting upon the conveyor 100 although, immediately subsequent thereto, the container is lifted off the conveyor as it engages the upper surface of the support rails 10] during the subsequent longitudinal movement in response to movement of the chain and the container engaging dogs 141 mounted thereon. Also past the point 105, the container is engaged by the container engaging dogs 121 as well as the dogs 141.

THE PUNCHING STATION As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a punching station 300 which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a member 49 is transversely mounted on the machine and secured to the intermediate, longitudinal frame members 35, 25. An angular plate 47 is secured to the intermediate, longitudinal frame member 25. Similarly, an angular plate 48 is secured to the intermediate, longitudinal frame member 35. A plate 40 is transversely mounted on the machine and secured to the angular plate 47 and 48.

The punching station 300 is fixedly mounted on the frame by securement to the plate 40. Considering the components of the hole punching station 300, there is provided a horizontally disposed cylinder 301 which is fixedly secured to the frame. Extending from the cylinder 301 is a piston 302 which operates in response to pressurized fluid being admitted to the cylinder 301. The piston and cylinder arrangement 301, 302, are double acting. Mounted on the piston 302 is a block 303 having two rods 304, 305 extending therefrom. The rods 304 and 305 are slidably received in a punching guide block 307. It will be noted (referring to FIG. 6) that the punching guide block 307 has two downwardly depending members 306 and 309 which define a channel therebetween. The rod 304 is slidably received in the downwardly depending section 306 and protrudes therefrom into the channel. An anvil 308 is fixedly mounted on the downwardly depending section 309 and is coaxially aligned with a punch 304a which is mounted onthe end of the rod 304. As best seen in FIG. 6, the anvil 308 is hollow and communicates with a chute 311. The rod 305 is also slidably mounted in the housing 307. It will be noted that the rod 305 terminates in a cone 310.

Fixedly mounted on the plate 40 is a pair of blocks 333 in which a shaft 329 is journaled. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a lever 328 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 329.

Slidably mounted within the housing 307 is a rod 321 which protrudes upwardly from the housing 307 and through a coincidentally aligned aperture in the plate 40. At the bottom of the rod 321 (FIG. 8) a channel is provided. Located within this channel is a roller 324. The roller 324 is rotatably mounted on a pin 324a disposed transversely of the channel and secured to the rod 321. The top of the rod 321 engages a pin 325 which is rotatably mounted on one end of the lever 328. A pin 327 is fixedly mounted on the rod 321 and extends perpendicular thereto. The pin 327 is bracketed by a pair of pins 326 which extend vertically and are secured to the plate 40. Thus, it will be seen that as the rod 321 slides up and down, rotation of the rod 321 is prevented by the pins 326 which bracket the pin 327.

At the other end of the lever 328 there is provided a rotatably mounted pin 330. Disposed beneath and engaging the rotatably mounted pin 330 is a positioning bar 335 which is slidably received in a block 336 that is secured to the housing 307. The horizontally extending pin 334 which is secured to the positioning bar 335 cooperates with the vertically extending pair of pins 332 to prevent rotation of the positioning bar 335 in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the pins 326 and 327.

Additionally, a spring 331 is connected between the transverse place 49 and the horizontally extending pin 334. The spring 331 is mounted in an extended condition so as to provide an upward bias on the pin 334 and thus the positioning bar 335.

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be noted that a pair of guide blocks 313 are secured to the housing 307, for example by pins 317 (certain parts of the punching station shown in FIG. 8 have been numbered only on the left side since the right side is symmetrical therewith). A pair of guide rods 315, each having a removable flange 316 at one end thereof, are slidably mounted in the guide blocks 313. A compression spring 314 is provided intermediate each flange 316 and the guide blocks 313. Welded to the bottom of the guide rods 315 is a container depressor assembly 318 which, referring to FIG. 6, is longitudinally disposed within the channel defined by the downwardly depending members 306, 309. As best seen in FIG. 8, a roller 323 is rotatably mounted on a pin 322 which is secured to the gable depressor 318. The gable top depressor 313 may be advantageously provided with an inclined leading edge 319. Depending downwardly from the gable top depressor 318 is a channel member 320. Preferably, the channel member 320 is formed as integral part of the gable top depressor 318.

In operation, the punching station 300 would operate as follows.

When the punching station is not in operation, the piston 302 is in its retracted position and the punch 304a is retracted to the left side of the channel formed by the downwardly depending members 306 and 309. Similarly, the rod 305 is retracted to the left such that (FIG. 6) the cone portion 310 thereof is to the left of the rod 321. Referring to FIG. 8, the gable top depressor assembly will be in its upward position as a result of the upward bias supplied by the springs 314. Similarly, the positioning bar 335 will be retracted into its upward position as a result of the upward biasing force exerted by the spring 331. Since the positioning bar 335 is in its upward position at this time, the rod 321 is located in its downward position as a result of the lever action provided by the lever 328 rotating about the pin 32). Referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that as a container leaves the container displacing station, it is guided by the gable guide 73., Further, as the container is indexed into the punching station, the gable thereof enters the channel provided by the channel member 320. The chains 120, 140 and the container engaging dogs mounted thereon 121, 141 index the container into the punching station through means hereinafter described. At this point, suffice it to say that the container is indexed into the punching station and is approximately aligned at approximately the correct longitudinal position. Subsequently, a signal is provided from the timing circuit (hereinafter described) which actuates the double acting piston and cylinder 301, 302. In response thereto the piston 302 moves from its retracted position to its extended position as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that-as the piston 302 moves towards the right (its extended position) a number of actions occur substantially simultaneously. Thus, as the piston 302 is moving towards the right as shown in FIG. 6, the rods 304 and 305 also move to the right. It will be noted, however, that the rod 305 is longer than the rod 304. Thus, before the punching die 304a punches a hole in the gable of the container, the cone 310 of the rod 305 engages the roller 324 associated with the rod 321. Because of the cone shape, the roller 324 rides up the cone 310 thus raising the rod 321 which in turn pushes the pin 325 upward. In response thereto the pin 330 on the other end of the lever 328 is depressed downwardly thus causing the positioning bar 335 to accurately position the container with respect to the longitudinal axis of the punching station 300. After the cone shape portion 310 on the rod 305 has deflected the rod 321, the cone 310 next engages the roller 323 and depresses it downward. This downward depression forces the gable top depressor 318 downwardly so as to accurately position the gable with respect to the punch 304a. Such vertical positioning is required since the overall height of containers may vary from one to another but, nevertheless, the hole must be punched in the correct vertical position with respect to the top edge of the container. Thus, the gable top depressor 318 automatically insures that the hole is punched at the proper location with respect to the top edge of the cable.

after the cone 310 has fully depressed the gable top depressor 318, the punch 304a engages the gable of the container and a hole is punched. The material resulting from the punching operation is discharged through the hollow part of the anvil 308 and falls into the chute 311 for discharge from the machine. When the punching operation is completed, appropriate signals are provided from the timing circuit to the cylinder 301 causing the piston 302 to retract. When the piston 302 retracts, the rods 304 and 305 also retract. In response to the retraction of the rod 305, the springs 314 return the gable top depressor assembly 318 to its upward or retracted position. Similarly, the spring 331 returns the positioning bar 335 to its upward or retracted position. Thereafter, the container is indexed out of the punching station by the chains 120, and the container engaging dogs 121, 141 mounted thereon.

HANDLE APPLICATOR STATION 1 The machine shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a bandle applicator station 400. In general terms, the handle applicator station performs several functions. First, a handle is automatically mounted on the gable top of a container in the station. A handle is mounted by inserting the male member of the handle through the hole which was punched at the punching station 300. After the handle is thus mounted on the container, the handle is locked by urging the female member over the end of the male member which protrudes through the punched hole. When locked in place, the female member engages a groove provided on the forward part of the male member. Subsequent to the locking of the handle but substantially simultaneously therewith, the portion of the male member which extends past the female member is cold headed in order to permanently lock the handle on the container. The apparatus which performs these functions is shown in FIGS. 9-15 inclusive and will now be described.

The method and apparatus by which a handle is supplied to and mounted on a container is substantially identical to the method and apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,597,827 which is incorporated herein by reference. Thus, the apparatus for supplying handles to, and mounting handles on the container will only briefly be described.

Referring to FIG. 9, a plate 410 is transversely mounted on the machine and secured to the intermediate, longitudinal frame members 25, 35. A guide block 411 is secured to the plate 410. A pair of guide rods 412 are slidably mounted in the guide block 41 1. At the lower end, the guide rods 412 are secured to (FIGS. 1 1 and 12) two horizontally extending plates 145. The two plates 415 are joined by an upstanding triangular plate 414. Fillets 414a may be provided for additional strength. Referring to'FlGS. 9 and 11, the top of the plate 414 is connected to the lower end of a piston 413. The other end of the piston 413 is received in a fluid operated, double acting cylinder 431 which is appropriately mounted on the frame of the machine.

Referring again to FIGS. 11 and 12, it may be noted that two arms 480, 481 extend horizontally from the bottom of the triangular, vertical plate 414. The arm 481 is provided, at one end thereof, with two fingers 481a and 481b. The arm 480, which extends longitudinally of the machine, is provided with a transversely mounted finger 482. At an intermediate point on the arm 480, fingers 480a and 4801) are provided. It may be noted that the fingers heretofore described partially surround and engage a mandrel 417 which is fixedly mounted on the machine. Finally, it may be noted that a block 416 is fixedly mounted on the triangular plate 414. The plate 414 and all the elements attached thereto are vertically movable in response to movement of the piston 413. Movement of the piston 413 occurs in response to appropriate signals provided to the cylinder 431 from the machine timer.

Returning to a consideration of FIGS. 11 and 12, it may be noted that the mandrel 417 is provided with vertical grooves for receiving the fingers 481a, 48lb and 480a, 480b. Thus, as the plate 414 is vertically reciprocated by the piston 413, the fingers slide in the vertical grooves of the mandrel while the block 416 and the finger 482 move up and down adjacent to the vertical, transverse side of the mandrel 417,

As best seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, two pans 470, 471

.are secured to the bottom, horizontal surface of themandrel 417. It may be noted that each of the pans is provided with an oblique leading edge, e.g. the surface 470a of the pan 470. Additionally, the pans 470, 471 are each provided with a ledge 470b and 471b, respectively. Each of these ledges extends outwardly past the associated vertical surface of the mandrel 417.

When a container is not in the handle applicator station, the piston 413 is in its retracted position and the fingers and block 416 are above the top of the mandrel 417. At this time, a handle may be mounted on the mandrel 417 through the following action.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, a handle supplying beam is mounted obliquely to the mandrel 417 and transversely of the machine Through means not shown, a quantity of handles are disposed on the beam 420 and slide downwardly along the beam. The handle at the lower, terminal edge of the beam 420 rests against the retainer bar 419. When a handle is to be mounted on the mandrel 417 (which is not shown in FIG. 9) a piston actuated picker bar (not shown) engages the top surface of the handle resting on the beam 420. After engaging the top of the handle, the picker bar advances, in response to a movement of a picker piston, and pushes the handle. In response, the lower part of the handle rides up on the retainer bar 419 and slides over the top thereof. Thus, a handle is deposited on the mandrel 417. Details of this operation are shown in US. Pat. No. 3,597,827.

When a container is received in the handle applicator station and a handle has been deposited upon the mandrel 417, an appropriate signal is provided by the timing circuit to the cylinder 431 which, in response thereto, causes the piston 413 to move towards its extended position. As the piston 413 moves downward (towards its extended position), the handle which was previously deposited on the mandrel will be located below the fingers which slide along the mandrel. Thus, as the fingers and the block 416 move downwardly along the sides of the mandrel (referring to FIG. 12), they will push the handle 460 downwardly along the mandrel. Additionally, since the sides of the mandrel 417 are downwardly divergent, the handle 460 will open as it moves downwardly along the mandrel. As the handle approaches the lower end of the mandrel 417, a container positioning stud 490 (FIG. 11) engages the upstream corner of the container gable and, upon further downward movement, correctly positions the gable longitudinally of the machine. Such longitudinal alignment is essential to insure that the hole which was previously punched in the gable of the container is correctly located longitudinally of the machine, i.e. is in a position such that the male member on the handle will engage the hole in the gable when it is pushed off the mandrel.

Referring to FIG. 12, the handle 460 is shown in a position which would occur just prior to the time when the handle 460 was pushed off the bottom of the mandrel 417. Thus, it will be noted that the male and female member of the handle have been spread apart because of the downwardly divergent shape of the sides of the mandrel. When the handle 460 is pushed off the bottom of the mandrel, the male and female members snap together and the male member engages the hole in the gable of the container and is then engaged by the female member. FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show the handle 460 after it has been pushed off the mandrel. In these Figures, it will be noted that after the handle has been pushed off the mandrel, the lower surface thereof rests upon the top of the ledges 470b, 471b.

After the handle is mounted on the container, i.e. after the handle has been pushed ofithe mandrel and has engaged the container, the handle is locked and cold headed and then an appropriate signal is sent from the timer to the cylinder 431 which causes the piston 413 to retract. In response, the fingers and the block 416 slide upwardly to their upward position which is above the top of the mandrel 416. At this point, the handle has been mounted on the container.

When the handle is mounted on the container, it is substantially, simultaneously locked and cold headed. The locking and cold head functions are performed by a pair of fluid operated, double acting piston and cylin der systems 400 and 450 which are transversely, fixedly mounted on the frame of the machine. A pair of actuating pistons 406, 456 are provided, each operatively mounted in one of the cylinders 401, 451. Since the two piston and cylinder systems 400, 450 shown in FIG. 10 are identical and the parts thereof are correspondingly numbered, the construction of only one will be described in detail. Thus, referring to the piston and cylinder system 400, it will be seen that the piston 406 has been drilled and bored to provide an internal cavity. Affixed to the end of the piston 406 and extending partially into the cavity is a guide bushing 407, which is held in place by a retaining ring 408. A cold heading tool 403 extends through the cavity and is affixed to the piston 406 as at 409. Coaxially mounted on the cold heading tool 403 is a locking sleeve 404. The locking sleeve 404, which is slidably retained by the guide bushing 407, is provided with a flange 4040. A helical compression spring 405 is disposed around the cold heading tool 403 between the flange 404a and the interior wall of the piston 406. The spring 405 is preloaded (e.g. pre-loaded to 75 pounds) so that when the piston is in its retracted position (FIG. shows the pistons in their extended position) the left hand face of the flange 404a abuts the guide bushing 407. Further, when the piston 406 is in its retracted position, the length of the cold heading tool 403 and the locking sleeve 404 is such that the left hand or operative end of the locking sleeve will extend slightly past the end of the left hand or operative end of the cold heading tool 403. For example, the locking sleeve may extend 9/32 inch past the operative end of the cold heading too].

When the locking and cold heading apparatus is actuated, appropriate signals are supplied from the timing circuit to the cylinders 403i and 4511. In response thereto the pistons move toward their extended position. Referring to FIG. 10, it will be seen that as the piston 406 moves to the left, the locking sleeve 404 moves with it since the piston transmits a moving force through the spring 405 to the flange 404a of the locking sleeve 404. Both locking sleeves and both cold heading tools are coaxially aligned so as to operatively engage the male and female parts of a handle mounted on a container in the handle applicator station. Further, it will be appreciated that since the two locking sleeves extend past the end of the cold heading tools, the two locking sleeves will engage the male and female members of the handle and, in response to continued movmement of the piston, the desired locking action will occur. Additionally, because the hollow locking sleeves first contact the male and female parts of the handle, a degree of automatic, self-aligning is achieved.

In addition to the automatic self-aligning action, this construction functions such that the handle will be snap locked and cold headed irrespective of the orientation of the handle, i.e. it will be appreciated that the handle is asymmetric in that one end is the female member and the other end is the male member which projects through the hole in the gable and terminates in a stud that is cold headed. Thus, on a random basis, the stud may face either to the right or to the left. However, as will now be described, the apparatus of FIG. 10 will automatically adapt to provide the desired locking and cold heading irrespective of the orientation of the handle.

Assuming the handle shown in FIG. 10 has the female end on the left side of the gable, the male member attached to the right hand end of the handle will protrude through the gable and, after the female member has been snap locked onto the male member, the stud on the end of the male member will extend past the female member. Thus, after locking has occurred, and assuming that the force to achieve locking is approximately equal to the force exerted by the pre-loaded spring, the locking sleeve 404 will be restrained from further movement to the left and, as such, further movement to the left of the piston 406 will compress the spring 405 with the result that the cold heading tool 403 will move to the left and the guide bushing 407 will break contact with and move away from the flange 4. When the piston 406 reaches the end of its stroke, the operative end of the cold heading tool 403 is aligned with the operative end of the locking sleeve 404 an both will be flush against the handle.

As previously mentioned, although the pistons and cylinder systems 400 and 450 are identically constructed, their actions are different depending upon the orientation of the handle. Thus, as contrasted with the action of the piston and cylinder system 400 as described above, the piston and cylinder system 450 would operate as follows if the female member of the handle were on the left side of the gable as heretofore assumed.

Until locking has occured, the movement of the piston and cylinder system 450 would be the same as the movement of the piston and cylinder system 400 prior to locking. However, after locking has occurred, further movement of the piston 456 will cause the operative end of the cold heading tool 453 to engage the stud at the end of the male member. Thereafter, further forward movement of the cold heading tool 453 plastically deforms the stud and a cold heading results. However, since the stud, even when it is deformed, will still occupy a certain volume, the forward movement of the cold heading tool 453 is restrained and the piston 456 will not move to its fully extended position. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 10, when the cold heading operation is complete, the front of the retaining ring 408 is a distance Y from the container whereas the front of the retaining ring 458 is a distance Y+ d from the container, where d equals the thickness of the cold headed stud. Of course, the actions and movements heretofore described would be reversed if the handle were oppositely oriented. Additionally, it will be apparent that in order to achieve the above described operation, the piston and cylinder systems should be mounted and dimensioned such that the cold heading tools are coaxial and when the two pistons are fully extended, the distance between the cold heading tools will be equal to the thickness of the gable plus the thickness of two handle members (ears)%) TIMING CIRCUIT As hereinbefore indicated, the chains which indexably move the container from one station to another must operate in synchronism with the operation of the stations. For example, the punching station cannot be operated while a container is moving into or out of the station. Alternatively, when the punching station has been actuated, the container cannot be moved. Therefore, synchronism of the movement of the chains with the operation of the stations is essential.

To provide the required synchronization, a bank of cam operated switches are provided. Each of the cams for operating these switches is mounted on a common shaft which is driven by the shaft 51. Thus, referring to FIG. 1, the cam operated switches and the actuating cams are located in a timer 52 mounted on frame member 22. The common cam shaft is driven by shaft 51 which is one of the output shafts from the speed reducer 53. The discontinuous drive unit 56 which discontinuously moves the chains is so constructed that the output shaft 70 from the discontinuous drive unit 56 rotates 120 in response to a 360 rotation of the input shaft 55. More specifically, the construction of the discontinuous drive unit 56 is such that the output shaft 70 does not rotate when the input shaft 55 rotates through 240. After the input shaft 55 has rotated 240, the output shaft 70 rotates with the input shaft 55. Thus, choosing an arbitrary zero point of rotation, a rotation of the input shaft 55 through 360 causes the output shaft 70 to rotate only during the timer period represented by the angular displacement 240 to 360. With regard to the gear box 77, the output shafts 57, 58 rotate in mutually opposite directions in direct response to rotation of the input shaft 70. As such, it will be appreciated that the shaft 55 must make three revolutions in order to drive the output shafts 57, 58

through one revolution.

Referring to FIG. 2, the diameter of the chain drive sprocket wheels 122, 142 is such that a complete revolution of the chain drive sprocket wheels will displace a container from the displacing station through the handle applicator station. Thus, when the chain drive sprockets 122 and 142 rotate through an angular displacement of 120, a container located at the displacing station will be displaced or indexed to the punching station. A second rotation of 120 by the chain drive sprockets 122 and 142 will displace the same container from the punching station to the handle applicator station. Finally, a third angular displacement of 120 by the chain drive sprocket wheels 122 and 142 will constitute a complete revolution of the chain drive sprockets and will displace or index a container from the handle applicator station to the discharge portion of the machine whereupon it will be deposited upon the conveyor and exit from the machine.

The timing circuit which commands the functioning of the operating stations in synchronism with the indexable movement of the chains is shown in FIG. 16. Referring to FIG. 16, all contacts with a single letter designation, e.g. E, F, G, etc., are cam operated contacts. The cams which operate these contacts are the aforementioned cams located within the timer and which are mounted on a common shaft driven by the timer input shaft 51. Contacts LS2, LS3 and LS4 are mounted on the frame of the machine and close in response to the presence of a container or containers. For example, as best seen in FIG. 2, the presence of a container at the displacing station will displace arm 501 and thus close micro-switch LS2. Similarly, the presence of a container at the punching station will displace arm 502 thus closing switch LS3. Switch LS4 and associated arm 504 (FIG. 1) is provided to detect the presence of accumulated containers. It has been found that operating problems can be avoided if operation of the machine does not commence until a quantity of containers has been accumulated at the entrance to the machine. In the absence of a quantity of accumulated containers, a container reaching the displacing station may bounce backwards. If this occurs, the container will be longitudinally displaced when the displacer station is actuated. In this event, the container will not be properly aligned with the container engaging dogs and, as a result, the machine may be jammed or the container may be broken. If operation of the machine does not commence until a quantity of containers has been accumulated at hereinafter be described, closure of switch LS4 is a condition which must be satisfied to commence operation of the machine.

Referring to FIG. 17, a table is presented which designates the function of various cams that actuate certain of the contacts in FIG. 16. Also presented in FIG. 17 is the angular displacement associated with the actuation of these cams. The zero degree reference which defines the beginning of a dwell corresponds with the zero degree reference associated with the input shaft 55 to the discontinuous drive unit 56. Thus, it will be appreciated that when the shafts 51 and 55 rotate through a displacement of zero to 240, the output shafts 59, 69 from the gear box 77 are stationary. When the shafts 51 and 55 rotate from 240 to 360, the output shafts 59, 69 are rotating and rotate through an angular displacement of Thus, it will be evident that synchronization is provided between the movement of the drive chains and the angular movement of the cam shaft whereby the chains are stationary while the cam shaft is rotating from zero to 240 and the chains are moving while the cam shaft rotates between 240 and 360. In this manner, cams mounted on the shaft may be positioned to actuate their associated switches so as to insure that various operating stations function at the proper time with respect to the indexable movement of the container. For example, the various cams may be positioned to operate their respective contacts at the angular displacements indicated in FIG. 17. Assuming that no containers are in the machine at an arbitrary point in time and assuming that the cams are set to actuate their respective switches at the angular displacements indicated in FIG. 17, the following operation of the machine would automatically occur.

When the first container was delivered to displacing station, contact LS2 would close because of the displacement of arm 501 in response to the presence of the container. It will be assumed that this event occurred at the beginning of the dwell, i.e. when the cam shaft was passing its zero degree reference point. Thereafter, containers would accumulate until arm 504 (FIG. 1) was maintained in its displaced condition causing contact LS4 to remain closed. Referring to FIG. 16, when contact LS4 closes, coil TD2 is energized thus closing contact TD2 on line 12b. At this point, contact LS2 on line 12b is also closed by virtue of the fact that a container is located at the displacer station. While the contacts LS4 and LS2 were closing i.e. while containers were accumulating, the cam shaft was turning. Whenthe cam shaft reaches the 168 point (referring to FIG. 17), contact A is closed thus completing the circuit on line 12b of FIG. 16 and thus energizing coil 2CR. The energization of coil 2CR closes contact 2CR on line 12d thus energizing the displacement solenoid. When the displacement solenoid is energized, the displacer station is actuated and the container located therein is transversely displaced into engagement with the container engaging dogs. Contact 2CR and its two associated relays are of the latching type, i.e. a pulse provided to either coil will open or close the contact and the contact 2CR will remain in the last position until the opposite coil is pulsed. Thus, referring to FIG. 17, it will be noted that contact A is closed for a time period represented by 8 degrees, i.e. the contact A is closed during the time period 168 to 176. This brief contact closure provides a pulse to the coil of relay ZCR on line 12b which is the closing coil of the relay. Thus, although contact A is open after the cam shaft passes the 176 point, contact ZCR on line 12d remains closed. The purpose of utilizing such a relay, i.e. a pulsed latching relay, resides in the fact that the displacing mechanism must remain in this displaced condition until the container is withdrawn therefrom by the driving chains. As previously indicated, the driving chains do not move until the reference point of 240. Therefore, since the displacing mechanism must remain in its displaced condition until sometime after the chains have commenced their indexing movement, it is advantageous to use'a latchingrelay which does not require a continuous input signal.

Returning to a consideration of FIG. 16, at the 176 point, contact A will open. At the 181 point, contact H on line 12k will open. If contacts H and 4CR had been closed, the locking solenoid on line 12k, which actuates the locking and cold heading pistons, would have been actuated. However, under the assumed conditions, the locking solenoid was not actuated because contact 4CR is open. The purpose of contact 4CR and certain other contacts and wiring arrangements shown in FIG. 12 is to insure that an operating station does not function if a container is not present in the station. Thus, with general reference to FIG. 16, it will be observed that the punching solenoid on line He cannot be actuated unless contact LS3 is closed. Contact LS3 closes only when a container is present in the punching station. Thus, if a container'is not present in the punching station, the punching solenoid cannot be actuated notwithstanding the fact that the cam contact D, which calls for a punching operation, is closed. Similarly, it may be observed that the presence of a container at the punching station, as manifested by the closure of contact LS3, is a condition required for the energization of coil 3CR by closure of cam operated contact E. When contact 3CR on line 12h is closed, the picker solenoid is actuated and a handle is deposited on the mandrel. As s uch,.it will be evident that the picker solenoid will not be actuated and a handle will not be deposited on the mandrel, even when cam contact E calling for such action is closed, unless a container is present in the punching station thus closing contact LS3. Similarly, the remainder of the handle applicator station will be inoperative, notwithstanding the closure of cam operated switches calling for such operation, unless the picker solenoid has previously been actuated. Thus, when the picker solenoid on line 12h is actuated, coil 4CR is also actuated closing contact 4CR on line 12j. The mandrel solenoid on line l2j and the locking solenoid on line 12k will be operated if and only if contact 4CR is closed, i.e. the mandrel solenoid and the locking solenoid will be operated if and only if the picker solenoid has previously been operated. As such, it will be appreciated that the circuitry of FIG. 16 automatically provides two functions. First, it insures that an operating station will be disabled and prevented from operating in response to the closure of a cam operated contact if the previous station has not previously indicated the presence of a container. Further, once a container enters the displacer station, the circuitry of FIG. 16 insures that the machine will continue to operate until that container has had a handle mounted thereon and is discharged from the machine.

Returning to the progress of the above mentioned container which had entered the machine and was being indexed from the displacer station to the punching station, it will be appreciated that although the contact E is closed for the time period 240 to 248, the picker solenoid on line 12h will not be actuated because cbntact LS3 is open since a container is not present at the punching station. At the 248 point, contact E will open as indicated in FIG. 17. During the time represented by an angular displacement from 280 to 288, cam operated contact B will be closed (see FIG. 17) thus pulsing the open coil ZCR on line which, in turn, opens the contact ZCR and deenergizes the displacement solenoid on line 12d. As such, the displacer mechanism is retracted. The retraction of the displacer mechanism may be effected at the 280 point since, at that time, the container has been indexed out of the container guide of the displacer mechanism.

At the 329 point, contact G on line 12j is closed. If the picker solenoid had previously been actuated and a handle had been deposited on the mandrel, contact 4CR on line l2j would be closed and thus the mandrel arm solenoid would be energized to drive the handle off the mandrel and into operative relation with the container.

At the zero degree point, the container has been indexed into the punching station and contact LS3 on line 12e is closed. Thus, when cam operated contact D on line 12:: is closed the punching solenoid is energized which, in turn, energizes the punching piston and cylinders. Since the punching operation requires some time, the contact D is maintained in this closed position until the point.

When the cam shaft reaches the 23 point, cam operated contact F (line 12g) is closed thus energizing coil 3CR on line 12g and opening contact 3CR on line 12h which has the effect of deenergizing the picker solenoid on line 1211 and thus returning the picker to its retracted position. Of course, if the picker was in its retracted position (as it would be in the above described example) no movement of the picker arm would occur.

At a cam shaft rotation of 112, the handle has been driven off the mandrel (assuming a handle was present) and the mandrel arm is retracted by opening contact G on line 12j.

Previous to this action, at the point where the cam shaft had rotated to the 70 point, contact H on line 12k is closed, thus actuating the locking solenoid assuming that contact 4CR had previously been closed. Contact H is maintained in its closed position until the 18 l point to provide sufficient time for the locking and cold heading operation to occur.

At the point, cam operated contact C on line 12L is closed thus energizing the coil 4CR on line 12L which opens contact 4CR. The functional effect of opening contact 4CR is to clear the logic which functions to determine if a container is present in a particular operating station. The logic is reset when cam operated contact E on line 12f is closed thus reclosing contact 4CR on line 121 in addition to actuating the picker solenoid on line 12h. Subsequently, the cycle described above continues to operate until all containers have been cleared out of the machine.

While a preferred embodiment of our invention has hereinbefore been described, it is evident that variations thereof may be utilized by those skilled in the art in order to achieve the same functional results while nevertheless not departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. An automatic machine for applying handles to the gable top of containers on which container the handle is applied by inserting a male handle-attaching member through a hole punched in the gable and locked on the container by a female handle-attaching member snapped over the projecting end of the male member, said machine comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a hole punching station fixedly mounted on said frame adjacent one end thereof and including,

i. means for punching a hole through the gable of a gable top container positioned in said punching station,

ii. means for aligning the'gable of said gable top container with respect to said punching means;

0. a handle applicator station mounted on said frame and including,

i. means for applying a handle to a gable top container positioned within said handle applicator station,

ii. means for locking said handle on said gable top container,

iii. means for cold heading said locked handle on said gable top container; and

d. means mounted on said frame for indexably moving said container, along a substantially straight path, into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station in synchronism with the operation of said punching station and said handle applicator station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprisesi a. at least one chain mounted on said frame along said substantially straight path;

b. container engaging dogs mounted on said chain,

and I t c. means for discontinuously driving said chain to position a container in said punching station and then in said handle applicator station.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises:

a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame, one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said substantially straight path;

b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and

c. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substan-. tially straight paththan the other of said chains and extends past said one end vof said frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises:

a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path;

b. means for moving said conveyor;

c. guide rails mounted on adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and

(1. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignment with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor, the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 which further comprises gable topguide means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof and transversely aligned between said guide rails.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for transversely displacing a container includes a vertically disposed gable guide channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hole ing station comprises:

a. a housing fixedly mounted on said frame and including a first downwardly depending section and a second downwardly depending section with a longitudinal channel therebetween;

b. a channel member movably mounted in said housing for vertical movement, the channel of said channel member being coincidentally aligned with the longitudinal axis of said substantially straight path, said channel member located within said longitudinal channel when said channel member is in a downward position;

c. a positioning bar movably mounted on one transverse side of said housing;

d. a punch slidably mounted in said first downwardly depending section, transverse to said channel;

e. ananvil mounted on the interior of said second downwardly depending section and coaxially aligned-with said punch;

f. means for actuating said punch when a gable top container is in said punching station; and

g. means responsive to the movement of said punch for moving said channel member and said positioning bar into positioning engagement with said container before said punch contacts said container and retracting said channel member and said positioning bar after said punch withdraws from said container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said positioning bar contacts said container prior to said channel member contacting said container.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for actuating said punch is a piston and cylinder.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for moving said channel member and said positioning bar comprises:

a. a pin slidably mounted in said housing and connected at one end to said actuating means;

b. a first spring for biasing said channel member towards its retracted position;

c. a second spring for biasing said positioning bar towards its retractedposition; and

d. means for extending said positioning bar and said channel member into positioning engagement with punchsaid container in response to movement of said pin into said housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises:

a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame; one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said sub-stantially straight path;

b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and

c. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substantially straight path than the other of said chains and extends past said one end of said frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 which further comprises:

a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path;

b. means for moving said conveyor;

0. guide rails mounted adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and

d. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignment with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor,

' the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 which further comprises gable top guide means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof and longitudinally aligned between said guide rails.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for locking and cold heading said handle comprises:

a. a pair of fluid operated cylinders fixedly mounted on said frame;

b. a pair of actuating pistons each operatively mounted in one of said cylinders;

c. a pair of cold heading tools each fixedly attached to one of said pistons at one end with their operating ends protruding from said cylinder and coaxially aligned with each other for operative engagment with a container handle positioned therebetween;

d. a pair of locking sleeves each coaxially mounted on one of said cold heading tools, extending at one end past the operating end of said cold heading tool by an amount determined by the construction of said handle and having a flange at the other end and within said cylinder; and

e. resilient means mounted between said flange and said piston.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for applying a handle comprises:

a. a mandrel mounted on said frame above said pair of cold heading tools;

b. means for serially depositing a handle on said mandrel; and

c. means for pushing said handle off said mandrel and onto a container when a container is positioned below said mandrel.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises:

a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame, one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said substantially straight path;

b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and

0. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substantially straight path than the other of said chains and ex- .tends past said one end of said frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 which further comprises:

a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path;

b. means for moving said conveyor;

c. guide rails mounted adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and

d. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignement with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for transversely displacing a container includes a vertically disposed gable guide channel.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor, the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,795,966 DatedMarch 12, 1974 lnventofls) Fries Jr. et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 21, after "place." start new paragraph. Col. 2, line 58, "seciton" should be "section". Col. 10, line 28, "after" should be "After".

Col. 11, line 12, "1 5" should be --415--.

Col. ll, line 60, after "machine" insert Col. 13, line +3, "movmement" should be -movement--.

C01. 1 4, line +8, after"(ears)"delete "76)" and insert Signed and sealed this 1 6th-c1ay of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY GIBSQN, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN v Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An automatic machine for applying handles to the gable top of containers on which container the handle is applied by inserting a male handle-attaching member through a hole punched in the gable and locked on the container by a female handle-attaching member snapped over the projecting end of the male member, said machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a hole punching station fixedly mounted on said frame adjacent one end thereof and including, i. means for punching a hole through the gable of a gable top container positioned in said punching station, ii. means for aligning the gable of said gable top container with respect to said punching means; c. a handle applicator station mounted on said frame and including, i. means for applying a handle to a gable top container positioned within said handle applicator station, ii. means for locking said handle on said gable top container, iii. means for cold heading said locked handle on said gable top container; and d. means mounted on said frame for indexably moving said container, along a substantially straight path, into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station in synchronism with the operation of said punching station and said handle applicator station.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises: a. at least one chain mounted on said frame along said substantially straight path; b. container engaging dogs mounted on said chain, and c. means for discontinuously driving said chain to position a container in said punching station and then in said handle applicator station.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises: a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame, one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said substantially straight path; b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and c. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substantially straight path than the other of said chains and extends past said one end of said frame.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises: a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path; b. means for moving said conveyor; c. guide rails mounted on adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and d. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignment with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor, the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 which further comprises gable top guide means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof and transversely aligned between said guide rails.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for transversely displacing a container includes a vertically disposed gable guide channel.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hole punching station comprises: a. a housing fixedly mounted on said frame and including a first downwardly depending section and a second downwardly depending section with a longitudinal channel therebetween; b. a channel member movably mounted in said housing for vertical movement, the channel of said channel member being coincidentally aligned with the longitudinal axis of said substantially straight path, said channel member located within said longitudinal channel when said channel member is in a downward position; c. a positioning bar movably mounted on one transverse side of said housing; d. a punch slidably mounted in said first downwardly depending section, transverse to said channel; e. an anvil mounted on the interior of said second downwardly depending section and coaxially aligned with said punch; f. means for actuating said punch when a gable top container is in said punching station; and g. means responsive to the movement of said punch for moving said channel member and said positioning bar into positioning engagement with said container before said punch contacts said container and retracting said channel member and said positioning bar after said punch withdraws from said container.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said positioning bar contacts said container prior to said channel member contacting said container.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for actuating said punch is a piston and cylinder.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for moving said channel member and said positioning bar comprises: a. a pin slidably mounted in said housing and connected at one end to said actuating means; b. a first spring for biasing said channel member towards its retracted position; c. a second spring for biasing said positioning bar towards its retracted position; and d. means for extending said positioning bar and said channel member into positioning engagement with said container in response to movement of said pin into said housing.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises: a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame; one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said sub-stantially straight path; b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and c. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substantially straight path than the other of said chains and extends past said one end of said frame.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 which further comprises: a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path; b. means for moving said conveyor; c. guide rails mounted adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and d. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignment with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor, the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 which further comprises gable top guide means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof and longitudinally aligned between said guide rails.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for locking and cold heading said handle comprises: a. a pair of fluid operated cylinders fixedly mounted on said frame; b. a pair of actuating pistons each operatively mounted in one of said cylinders; c. a pair of cold heading tools each fixedly attached to one of said pistons at one end with their operating ends protruding from said cylinder and coaxially aligned with each other for operative engagment with a container handle positioned therebetween; d. a pair of locking sleeves each coaxially mounted on one of said cold heading tools, extending at one end past the operating end of said cold heading tool by an amount determined by the construction of said handle and having a flange at the other end and within said cylinder; and e. resilient means mounted between said flange and said piston.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for applying a handle comprises: a. a mandrel mounted on said frame above said pair of cold heading tools; b. means for serially depositing a handle on said mandrel; and c. means for pushing said handle off said mandrel and onto a container when a container is positioned below said mandrel.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for indexably moving said container comprises: a. a pair of driving chains mounted on said frame, one of said drive chains extending along one side of said substantially straight path and the other drive chain extending along the other side of said substantially straight path; b. a plurality of cooperating, container engaging dogs mounted on said chains; and c. means for discontinuously driving said chains to position a container into and out of said punching station and then into and out of said handle applicator station.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein one of said chains extends a greater distance along said substantially straight path than the other of said chains and extends past said one end of said frame.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 which further comprises: a. a conveyor, for delivering containers to said apparatus, said conveyor being disposed along said substantially straight path; b. means for moving said conveyor; c. guide rails mounted adjacent said conveyor for transversely displacing a container on said conveyor away from the longer of said driving chains at said one end of said frame; and d. means mounted on said frame at said one end thereof for transversely displacing a container into longitudinal alignement with said substantially straight path and into engagement with the container engaging dogs mounted on the longer of said chains.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for transversely displacing a container includes a vertically disposed gable guide channel.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 which further comprises support rails mounted adjacent said conveyor, the upper surface of said support rails being higher than the upper surface of said conveyor in the region of said punching station and said handle applicator station. 